National Roundup

Kentucky
New high court justice to speak at University  of Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court’s newest member will speak at the University of Louisville next week.

UofL says Justice Neil Gorsuch will appear at a public event on campus on Sept. 21. He’s also expected to meet privately with McConnell Scholar students.

Gorsuch was nominated to the nation’s highest court by President Donald Trump. He was confirmed by the Senate and took his seat on the court in April.

He filled a 14-month vacancy after the death of Antonin Scalia.

Gorsuch’s appearance will be in the hometown of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The Kentucky Republican played a key role in paving the way for Gorsuch’s place on the court. When Scalia died in February 2016, McConnell decided the Senate would not fill the seat until the next president was elected.

Pennsylvania
Woman admits to stealing $200K from neighbor, 92

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania woman has acknowledged stealing over $200,000 from her 92-year-old neighbor in a credit card scheme.

Forty-seven-year-old Patricia Westerman, of Bensalem, pleaded guilty to identity theft, credit card fraud and theft counts on Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Westerman’s neighbor gave her power of attorney after his wife died in 2015 as his health deteriorated. Investigators say Westerman opened up two credit cards in the man’s name and began making purchases in May 2015.

In addition, investigators say Westerman withdrew thousands from the victim’s bank account and also received prescription medications in the victim’s name.

Deputy District Attorney Marc Furber is seeking $215,752 in restitution.

A judge has deferred sentencing for a pre-sentence investigation and mental health evaluation.

Connecticut
Mom of slain teen offers to settle lawsuit claims for $23M

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The mother of a Connecticut teenager stabbed to death at her school has offered to settle lawsuit allegations against the city of Milford and its school district for $23 million.

Lawyers for Donna Cimarelli-Sanchez filed the offer Wednesday in Milford Superior Court. A lawyer for the city did not immediately return a message seeking comment Thursday.

Maren Sanchez, 16, was killed at Jonathan Law High School in April 2014, on the day of her junior prom. Police said her classmate, Christopher Plaskon, was upset that Sanchez had rejected his prom invitation.

Plaskon’s lawyer has denied the slaying was related to the prom, but he has not elaborated.

Plaskon, now 20, was sentenced to 25 years in prison last year after pleading no contest to a murder charge.

Cimarelli-Sanchez filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Plaskon, his parents, the city and the school district last year. Plaskon and his parents recently agreed to settle the lawsuit allegations against them for $1.6 million — an amount that awaits court approval.

The lawsuit alleges Plaskon’s parents and school officials could have prevented the killing by taking appropriate steps to address his mental illness. Plaskon’s parents and city officials filed court documents denying wrongdoing.

Plaskon’s parents told authorities that he had possible depression, suicidal tendencies, self-mutilating behavior and mood swings. Other court documents said Plaskon heard voices in his head that made him kill the girl.

The attack happened in a first-floor hallway at about 7:15 a.m. Students described an emotional scene where people were crying as police and paramedics swarmed the school.

A witness tried to pull Plaskon off Sanchez during the attack, and another saw Plaskon discard a bloody knife, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Plaskon was taken to the principal’s office in bloody clothing and told police, “I did it. Just arrest me,” according to the affidavit.

In the court documents filed Wednesday, Cimarelli-Sanchez offered to settle the allegations against the Board of Education for $15 million and the city for $8 million.

“The offers of compromise that have been filed reflect what we feel are fair numbers for Maren Sanchez’s terrible death,” said David Golub, an attorney for Cimarelli-Sanchez.

Maine
Dad of man charged in 4 deaths has many questions

ROCKPORT, Maine (AP) — The father of a Maine man accused of killing three family members and a caregiver says he doesn’t understand how his son could have committed such violence.

Orion Krause is charged with killing his mother, grandparents and their caretaker at his grandparents’ Massachusetts home last week.

Alexander Krause tells The Boston Globe that his 22-year-old son was a “stellar student,” who recently graduated from Oberlin College. Krause says the killings underscore the need to “pay more attention to mental health,” but declined to elaborate.

Krause tells the newspaper that there are “so many unanswered questions.”

Orion Krause is being held at Bridgewater State Hospital pending a competency hearing.

California
Man jailed for check fraud passes bad check for bail

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a Southern California man jailed on suspicion of check fraud and identity theft is suspected of using a counterfeit cashier’s check to post bail.

The Ventura County Star reports Cedric Frierson is due in court Thursday.

The 42-year-old was initially arrested in June after Thousand Oaks police said he gave three counterfeit checks totaling $12,000 to a car dealership as down payment on an SUV.

The arrest came after a four-month investigation during which detectives discovered he allegedly passed counterfeit checks to several businesses.

Frierson was released after posting bail. But police say they determined a counterfeit cashier’s check was used to post the bail and Frierson was rearrested July 19.

It wasn’t clear on Wednesday if he has an attorney.